Work support



Nov. 30 1926. 1,608,545

L. ZINN WORK SUPPORT Filed April 14. 1922 Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, JERSEY, A CORPORATION NEW JERSEY.

WORK sorronr.

Application filed April 14, 1922, Serial No. 552,531, and in Germany July 8, 1921.

This invention relates to work supports and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine designed for use in supporting a shoe upright in a position convenient for finishing operations such, for example, as the insertion of a lace, although the invention is not limited in its usefulness to supporting shoes for finishing operations.

The insertion of the lace is one of the last operations in the manufacture of a shoe and takes place generally after the shoe has been finished and delasted. According to present day practice the lace is ordinarily inserted in the shoe by handthe operator meanwhile holding the shoe with one hand on a bench or between his knees. This is not only an inconvenient and arduous process but when held between the knees of the operator there is danger of the shoe being subjected to undue lateral pressure and if the shoe comprises colored leather or cloth there is danger that it may become spotted by contact With soiled aprons. When the shoe is put upon a bench there is danger of soiling the shoe by the hands of the operator and also of scratching the fine finish of the sole by dust which may have accumulated upon the bench.

In order to avoid the foregoing disadvantages, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting device arranged for quick and facile manipulation and designed for holding shoes, while finishing operations are being performed thereon, in suclra' manner as to prevent injury to the surfaces of the shoes and to reduce to a minimum the risk of soiling the shoes.

To the accomplishment of this object a feature of the invention consists in the pro vision in a shoe supporting clamp of a cushion portion and a resiliently mounted memher for engaging the heel of a shoe to maintain the rear of the shoe in supporting engagement with the cushion portion.

gince the illustrated device is designed to be used in clamping and supporting shoes while finishing operations are being performed thereon, it is important that the clamp may be manipulated so quickly as not to delay an operation such as inserting the lace.

Accordingly a further feature of the invention consists in the provision, in a shoe supporting clamp, of members to engage the: breast and rear portions of the heel of a shoe, resilient means tending constantly to urge the members together and manually operable means for separating such members. Preferably, to facilitate the performance of finishing operations, the manually operable means for separating the clamping members takes the form of a treadle. By such an arrangement the operative may actuate the clamping members and meanwhile have both hands free to assist in properly positioning the shoe within the support and in removing it therefrom.

Inasmuch as a shoe is in a delasted condition when an operation such as lacing is being performed upon it, the invention con templates engaging relatively rigid portions of the shoe, such as the heel or counter, to avoid the possibility of deforming the shoe by the clamping action.

To this end another feature of the invention consists in the provision in a shoe supporting clamp of a member formed and arranged to engage the counter of a finished shoe, and a co-operating member resiliently and movably arranged to engage the breast of the heel of the shoe and adapted to apply clamping pressure directed toward the counter engaging portion of the first member.

The invention is more fully described in the following specification; and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows in elevation an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the illvention, the shoe holding device is shown with a shoe 8 held thereby and comprises a suitable base 2' which is adapted to be secured to work bench 4:. Rising from the base 2 is a rigid portion or seat 6 formed to approximate the shape of the rear portion of a shoe. When the device is to be used for holding finished shoes, as in a packing-room, this portion will preferably be faced by a thick felt padding 8 which prevents injury to the finished surface of the shoe.

Pivoted at 10 on a lug extending from the base 2 is a clamp member 12 in the form of a bell crank lever which carries a heel and sole engaging head 14: which may also be padded with felt, if desired. A spring 16 is secured at opposite ends to the base 2 and to the rear end of the bell crank lever 12. The clamping device may be opened for in sertion and withdrawal of the work by manipulation of a suitable foot treadle. 20, connected to the bell crank lever 12 by means of a chain 18. As shown, the upper surface of the head 14 is shaped to engage the shank of the sole adjacent to the heel breast thereby affording a support for the shoe inde pendent of the clamping action of the head and the portion 6 of the holding device. By reason of its engagement with the shank, the head 14: has no tendency to slip upwardly after it has engaged the heel breast, thus insuring against possible injury to the tinished surface of the heel breast.

It will be observed that the shoe is held in an upright position extending conveniently toward an operator who is in a position to manipulatethe foot treadle for opening and closing the clamp. The clamping pressure of the head 1% is applied in such a direction that the shoe is urged rearwardly and upwardly to seat the rear of the counter in the hollow of the portion 6 of the holding device. Moreover all of the relatively slight strain on the shoe comes on the heel and counter, which are comparatively rigid and well able to sustain a pressure which is sufficient to hold the shoe quite firmly. It will also be noted that all of the shoe engaging parts are covered with a soft padding which makes injury to the polished surface of the shoe practically impossible.

While one form of the invention has been described in detail it is not the intention to limit its scope thereby orotherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, a clamp member formed and arranged to engage the back of the counter of a finished shoe, and a co-operating clamp member resiliently and movably arranged to engage the breast of the heel of the shoe and adapted to apply clamping pressure directed toward the counter-engaging portion of the first clamp member.

2. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, a stationary clamp member formed and arranged to engage the counter of a finished and delasted shoe, a cooperating movable clamp member to engage the breast of the heel of the shoe, and means to effect relative movement between said members to permit the clamping and unclamping of a shoe.

3. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, a rigidly mounted member shaped to provide a socket to receive the rear portion of the heel and counter of a shoe, a pivotally mounted member having a portion to engage the breast of the heel of the shoe, and means for rocking the pivotally mounted member to apply clamping pressure directed toward the counter-receiving portion of said rigid member.

1. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, a rigid clamp member shaped to conform to the back and sides of the counter and heel of a shoe, a co-operating movable clamped member shaped to engage the heel breast and the shank of the sole, and treadle-controlled means for clamping and unclamping said members.

5. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, co-operating clamp members resiliently to engage the breast of the heel of a shoe and the back of the counter and hold the shoe in an upright position, and treadle-controlled means for clamping and unclamping said members.

6. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, a base constructed and arranged to be secured to a bench, a portion rigidly mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said portion being formed to approximate the shape of the rear end of the heel and counter of a shoe, and a bell crank lever pivoted to the base and formed with a clamping head arranged to engage the breast of the heel of a shoe engaged by said rigid member.

7. A shoe holding device comprising, in combination, a base constructed and arranged to be secured to a bench, a portion rigidly mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, said portion being formed to approximate the shape of the rear end of the heel and counter of a shoe, and a bell crank lever pivoted to the base and formed with a clamping head arranged to engage the breast of the heel of a shoe engaged by said rigid member, a spring for urging the bell crank lever into clampingposition, and manually-controlled means for rocking the bell crank lever into unclamping position.

8. A clamp of the character described comprising, in combination, a member to engage and conform to a substantial area of the breast of a heel and a member to engage and conform to a substantial area of the rear surface of a heel, a spring to urge said members together, and means for separating said members.

9. A clamp of the class described comprising, in combination, a base, a portion rigidly mounted on the base and shaped to conform to the contour of the rear surface of a heel, a bell crank lever pivoted on the base and formed with a portion to engage the breast of the heel, a spring connected to the base and to the opposite end of the bell crank lever for clamping a heel, and treadlecontrolled means for releasing the clamp against the tension of the spring.

10. A clamp for finished shoes comprising, in combination, co-operating clamping members one of which is movably arranged 11. A shoe supporting clamp comprising, in combination, a cushion portion, and a resiliently mounted member for engaging the heel of a shoe to maintain the rear of th shoe in supporting engagement with 15 the cushion portion.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LUDWIG ZINN. 

